ney Carton.

“No; but before I go on,” said Stryver, shaking his head in his

bullying way, “I’ll have this out with you. You’ve been at Dr.

Manette’s house as much as I have, or more than I have. Why, I

have been ashamed of your moroseness there! Your manners have

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics

been of that silent and sullen and hang-dog kind, that, upon my

life and soul, I have been ashamed of you, Sydney!”

“It should be very beneficial to a man in your practice at the

bar, to be ashamed of anything,” returned Sydney; “you ought to

be much obliged to me.”

“You shall not get off in that way,” rejoined Stryver,

shouldering the rejoinder at him; “no Sydney, it’s my duty to tell

youand I tell you to your face to do you goodthat you are a

devilish ill-conditioned fellow in that sort of society. You are a

disagreeable fellow.”

Sydney drank a bumper of the punch he had made, and

laughed.

“Look at me!” said Stryver, squaring himself; “I have less need

to make myself agreeable than you have, being more independent

in circumstances. Why do I do it?”

“I never saw you do it yet,” muttered Carton.

“I do it because it’s politic; I do it on principle. And look at me! I